New Outlook vs Classic Outlook Folder Colors: Where to Find It

In Classic Outlook, you can change the color of a folder in the navigation pane to quickly differentiate between mail, calendar, or other folders. In the New Outlook for Windows, the folder color feature is still available but located in a different place and works differently. This article explains where to find folder color settings in both versions, what has changed, and how to apply colors in the New Outlook.

Many users who switch from Classic Outlook to New Outlook report that the familiar right-click option to assign a folder color is missing. The reason is that New Outlook uses a different folder management system that relies on categories instead of direct folder color assignment. This article will show you exactly how to achieve the same visual result in New Outlook using categories and how to verify your folder colors in Classic Outlook.

How Folder Colors Work in Classic Outlook

In Classic Outlook, each folder in the navigation pane can have a custom background color. This feature is part of the folder properties and is independent of message categories. The color applies to the entire folder row in the folder pane, making it easy to spot at a glance.

Prerequisites for Classic Outlook

You need Classic Outlook 2016, 2019, 2021, or Classic Outlook for Microsoft 365. The folder color feature is available for mail, calendar, contacts, tasks, and notes folders.

How to Assign a Folder Color in Classic Outlook

1. Right-click the folder
   In the navigation pane on the left, right-click the folder you want to color. Choose Properties from the context menu.
2. Open the Folder Color picker
   In the Properties dialog, click the Folder Color button at the bottom of the General tab. A color palette appears.
3. Choose a color
   Select one of the 12 predefined colors, or click More Colors to define a custom color. Click OK in the color picker, then click OK in the Properties dialog.
4. Verify the change
   The folder row in the navigation pane now shows the selected background color. The color persists until you change it or reset it to No Color.

How Folder Colors Work in New Outlook

New Outlook does not have a direct folder color property. Instead, it uses categories to apply color to folder names and items within that folder. When you assign a category to a folder, the folder name in the navigation pane gets the category color as a background tint. Items inside that folder also inherit the category color.

Prerequisites for New Outlook

You need New Outlook for Windows, available in Microsoft 365 subscriptions. The feature is currently limited to mail folders. Calendar and contacts folders cannot display folder colors in New Outlook.

How to Apply a Folder Color in New Outlook Using Categories

1. Right-click the mail folder
   In the folder pane on the left, right-click the mail folder you want to color. Select Categorize from the menu.
2. Select an existing category
   If you have already created categories, click one to assign it. The folder name immediately gets the category color as a background tint.
3. Create a new category if needed
   If no suitable category exists, click All Categories at the bottom of the Categorize menu. In the Color Categories dialog, click New. Type a name for the category, choose a color from the palette, and click OK. Then click OK again.
4. Apply the new category to the folder
   Right-click the folder again, choose Categorize, and select the newly created category. The folder color updates instantly.
5. Remove a folder color
   To remove the color, right-click the folder, choose Categorize, and click Clear All Categories.

Differences Between Classic and New Outlook Folder Colors

The most significant difference is that Classic Outlook applies a solid background color to the entire folder row, while New Outlook applies a tinted background based on the category color. In Classic Outlook, the color is independent of item categories. In New Outlook, the color is tied to categories, which means that assigning a category to a folder also assigns that category to all items within the folder.

Another difference is scope. Classic Outlook supports folder colors for mail, calendar, contacts, tasks, and notes folders. New Outlook only supports folder colors for mail folders. Calendar folders in New Outlook display a colored dot instead of a full background tint.

Common Issues and Limitations

Can I assign a custom folder color in New Outlook that is not a category color?

No. New Outlook does not have a standalone folder color property. You must use categories. If you want a specific color that is not in the default palette, you can create a new category with a custom color. However, the custom color is limited to the 25 predefined hues in the Color Categories dialog. You cannot enter an RGB or hex value.

Why does my folder color in New Outlook disappear after restart?

This can happen if the category assigned to the folder is deleted or renamed. Categories are stored in your mailbox and sync across devices. If you delete a category from the All Categories list, the folder loses its color. To restore it, recreate the category and reassign it to the folder.

Can I apply a folder color to a subfolder in New Outlook?

Yes. Right-click the subfolder, choose Categorize, and select a category. The subfolder gets its own color independent of the parent folder. This works only for mail subfolders.

Does the folder color sync between New Outlook and Classic Outlook?

Partially. The category assignment syncs between both versions because categories are stored in your Exchange mailbox. However, Classic Outlook does not interpret a category as a folder color. When you open the same mailbox in Classic Outlook, the folder does not show the color because Classic Outlook uses its own folder color property. You would need to set the folder color manually in Classic Outlook as described earlier.

Item	Classic Outlook	New Outlook
Folder color method	Built-in folder property	Category assignment
Supported folder types	Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Notes	Mail only (Calendar uses colored dot)
Color palette	12 predefined + custom RGB	25 predefined hues only
Effect on items	None	All items in folder get the category
Sync across devices	Does not sync	Category syncs, folder color syncs as category

You can now apply folder colors in both Classic Outlook and New Outlook using the correct method for each version. In New Outlook, use categories to color mail folders. If you need folder colors for calendar or contacts folders, switch to Classic Outlook. For advanced organization, consider using conditional formatting rules in Classic Outlook to automatically color items based on sender or subject.